phil 201 lec 01 “mind, matter, and god” winter term … · faculty of arts . department of...
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FACULTY OF ARTS
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 201 Lec 01 “Mind, Matter, and God”
Winter Term 2018
Course Outline
Lectures: MWF 9:00-9:50, AD 142 Instructor: Marc Ereshefsky TA: Sydney Harvey Office: SS 1204 Office: SS 1231 Office Phone: (403) 220-3162 Office Phone: (403) 220-8622 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Wed 1:00-2:30, & by appointment Office Hours: Thr 2:00-3:00 Course Description This class is a general introduction to philosophy. It will focus on three areas of philosophy: epistemology, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind. Epistemology explores how we obtain knowledge. Philosophy of science asks what makes a theory scientific. Philosophy of mind attempts to provide an account of the mind. Prerequisites: None Course Learning Outcomes • Broad knowledge of diverse philosophical issues, problems, traditions, and views. • Ability to critically digest, interpret, and analyze complex sources. • Ability to engage in constructive, respectful, oral and written argumentation.
Required Text: First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy, Second Edition (2011), edited by Andrew Bailey (with Robert Martin). Broadview Press. Course Assessment • Three in-class tests and five homework assignments are required. No Registrar scheduled final will
be given. • Here is the schedule for tests and homework assignments, as well as their point values.
January 26 Homework #1 50 February 2 Homework #2 75 February 9 Test #1 250 March 9 Homework #3 75 March 16 Homework #4 75 March 23 Test #2 300 April 6 Homework #5 75 April 13 Test #3 100
1000
• Tests will be given in class. Homework will be collected in class. • No single test or homework is required to pass the course. • No make-up tests will be given or late homework assignments accepted without an appropriate
excuse.
• Final grades will be awarded as follows. 960-1000 = A+ 750-799 = B 550-599 = C- 900-959 = A 700-749 = B- 500-549 = D+ 850-899 = A- 650-699 = C+ 450-499 = D 800-849 = B+ 600-649 = C below 450 = F
D2L and Email: Class information and handouts will be posted on D2L. You’ll be sent class announcements through email and the email account used will be the one you gave the University Registrar. So please check that account. Tutorials: A philosophy Ph.D. student will lead tutorials. She will clarify course material and she will highlight which course material is most important for homework and tests. She’ll also answer your questions and offer help on homework and tests. Topics and Readings Introduction to Philosophy and Logic What is Philosophy? An Introduction to Arguments Epistemology
Rene Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (selections) John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (selections)
Philosophy of Science C.S. Pierce, “The Fixation of Belief”
Carl Popper, “Science: Conjectures and Refutations” Kathleen Okruhlik, “Gender and Biological Sciences” in Canadian Journal of Philosophy Supplementary volume 20, Biology and Society: Reflections on Methodology, Mohan Matthen and Robert Ware editors (1994), pp. 21-42. This chapter is available in an ebook through the University of Calgary Library website.
Philosophy of Mind Gilbert Ryle, “Descartes’s Myth” John Searle, “Minds, Brains and Programs”
IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTAL, FACULTY AND UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Academic Honesty Cheating or plagiarism on any assignment or examination is regarded as an extremely serious academic offense, the penalty for which may be an F on the assignment, an F in the course, academic probation, or requirement to withdraw from the University. See the relevant sections on ‘Academic Misconduct’ in the current University Calendar. Intellectual honesty requires that your work include adequate referencing to sources. Plagiarism occurs when you do not acknowledge or correctly reference your sources. If you have questions about correct referencing, consult your instructor. Academic Accommodation The student accommodation policy can be found at: ucalgary.ca/access/accommodations/policy. Students needing an Accommodation because of a disability or medical condition should communicate this need to Student Accessibility Services in accordance with the Procedure for Accommodations for Students with Disabilities http://www.ucalgary.ca/policies/files/policies/student-accommodation-policy.pdf. Students needing an Accommodation based on a Protected Ground other than Disability, should communicate this need, preferably in writing, to their instructor. D2L Help Desire2Learn is UCalgary’s online learning management system. Important information and communications about this course may be posted on D2L. Go to https://ucalgary.service-now.com/it for help. General Academic Concerns and Program Planning Have a question but not sure where to start? The Arts Students Centre is your information resource for everything in the Faculty of Arts. Drop in at SS102, call 403-220-3580, or email [email protected] . Advisors in the ASC can also provide assistance and advice in planning your program through to graduation. Visit the Faculty of Arts website at https://arts.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate for detailed information on common academic concerns Advice on Philosophy Courses You may find answers to your more specific questions about a philosophy degree on the Department of Philosophy’s website http://phil.ucalgary.ca , or contact one of Philosophy’s Undergraduate Advisors. Jeremy Fantl ([email protected]), Allen Habib ([email protected]), Megan Delehanty ([email protected]). Registration Overload/Prereq Waivers If you are seeking to register in a Philosophy course that is full or to get permission to waive the prereqs for a course, email the Department Manager, Tram Nguyen ([email protected]). Include the specific course information and your UCID number in your request.
Writing This course will include written assignments. Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented. Students are also encouraged to use Writing Support Services and other Student Success Centre Services, located on the 3rd floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library. Writing Support Services assist with a variety of assignments, from essays to lab reports. Students can book 30-minute one-on-one appointments online, sign up for 15- minute drop-in appointments, and register for a variety of writing workshops. For more information on this and other Student Success Centre services, please visit www.ucalgary.ca/ssc . Protection of Privacy The University of Calgary is under the jurisdiction of the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. The Department of Philosophy ensures the student’s right to privacy by requiring all graded assignments be returned to the student directly from the instructor or teaching assistant. Internet and Electronic Communication Devices The instructor reserves the right to establish course policies regarding the use of devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartbooks. If allowed, these devices must be used exclusively for instructional purposes and must not cause disruption to the instructor or to fellow students. Cell phones and paging devices should be set to silent mode during lectures. Audio or video recording of lectures is not permitted without the written permission of the instructor. Students violating this policy are subject to discipline under the University of Calgary’s Non-Academic Misconduct policy Emergency Evacuation: In case of an emergency evacuation during class, students must gather at the designated assembly point nearest to the classroom. The list of assembly points is found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/emergencyplan/assemblypoints . Please check this website and note the nearest assembly point for this course. Other Helpful Contacts
• Safewalk and Campus Security: 403-220-5333. • Faculty of Arts Student Representatives: 403-220-6552, [email protected] ,
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] • Student Union: https://www.su.ucalgary.ca/; 403-220-6551. • Student Ombudsman: http://www.ucalgary.ca/provost/students/ombuds • Campus Mental Health Strategy: https://www.ucalgary.ca/mentalhealth/